Clarinetist, Evan Christopher is a refreshingly bright light on the international jazz scene. He combines virtuosity, immaculate taste, and enthusiasm with a deep commitment to exploring the full range of musical possibilities that come from celebrating the traditions and idioms of New Orleans Jazz. His highly individual sound is anchored in the expressive language created by early Creole clarinetists suchas Sidney Bechet, Omer Simeon, and Barney Bigard.

In 1994, Christopher left his native California for New Orleans where he quickly entrenched himself in the local music scene. He appeared with musicians as stylistically diverse as Al Hirt and veterans of Preservation Hall to funk and brass bands including the Nightcrawlers and Galactic, before leaving in 1996 to join the Jim Cullum Jazz Band in San Antonio, Texas. For nearly three years, he appeared nightly as their featured clarinetist and recorded several shows  of their syndicated radio program, Riverwalk: Live from the Landing.

Christopher returned to New Orleans in 2001 and was based there through August of 2005. After the Federal levees failed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, he traveled continuously and even based himself briefly in Paris as an artist-in-residence at the invitation of the French government until settling again in New Orleans in 2008. Recognized worldwide as an important advocate for early jazz styles, Mr. Christopher was mentored by jazz legends Marshall Hawkins, Tony Scott, and Kenny Davern. He is featured on many recordings with New Orleans artists including Big Al Carson, Duke Heitger, Narvin Kimball, Uncle Lionel Battiste, and Tom McDermott. Delta Bound featuring Dick Hyman (Arbor's Records 2007) and his Clarinet Road series (STR Digital) are among the recordings under his own name and his most recent projects are featured on two independent releases, JazzTraditions PROJECT: Introduction, Live at the Meridien
and Django à la Créole.

Mr. Christopher began his musical training on clarinet at age 11. In high school, he received the Louis Armstrong National Jazz Award and was one of the first graduates of the prestigious Idyllwild Arts Academy. He continued studies at the University of Southern California and graduated cum laude with a Bachelor's degree fromCalifornia State University, Long Beach. Published research and academic presentations on the New Orleans clarinet style initiated his pursuit of a Masters degree in Musicology at Tulane University. Besides leading his own groups, the Jazz Traditions PROJECT and Django à la Créole, he frequently tours as a featured soloist with Irvin Mayfield and the New Orleans Jazz Orchestra and teaches part-time at the University of New Orleans where he coaches their New Orleans Jazz Ensemble.